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Probing Pathankot attack, NIA to examine JeM's role in other strikes

There were striking similarities between attacks undertaken by Jaish in Tandgdhar, Kathua and Samba in Jammu last year.

New Delhi: Expanding its ambit of probe in the Pathankot terror attack, NIA has decided to examine other terror cases involving Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) to gather more evidence against the outfit.

NIA sources said the agency's probe was not event-specific and it would like to look at the role of the terror group in other cases as well.

There were striking similarities between the attacks undertaken by Jaish in Tandgdhar in North Kashmir, Kathua and Samba in Jammu region and Dina Nagar (in Punjab) that took place last year.

NIA teams have been sent to all these places to examine the evidence collected by the local police and quiz those arrested after securing permission from the court, the sources said.

Read: Jaish planning another Pathankot style attack with ISI aid: report

They said the agency could spot glaring similarities in the modus operandi of the terrorists, who staged attacks in Kathua, Samba and those involved in the assault on Pathankot IAF base on the intervening night of January 1-2 this year in which seven people were killed.

The sources said the group which attacked the Samba army camp was also carrying enough eatables and supplies for a long haul fight with security forces and the arms and ammunition used by them were also the same.

The attack in Samba on the Jammu-Pathankot highway took place on March 21 and two terrorists were involved. The team also visited Kathua where Rajbagh police station was attacked by a group of terrorists on March 20 last year.

Read: Pathankot probe: NIA asks Pakistan for voice samples of JeM chief

In the Samba attack both the terrorists were killed, while in Kathua two militants were gunned down in a fierce exchange of gunfire which also claimed the lives of three security personnel and a civilian.

In the Tangdhar area, three heavily-armed militants of JeM carried a terror strike at army camp near the Line of Control, triggering a fierce gunfight in which all the attackers and a civilian were killed and a soldier was injured.

( Source : PTI )
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